A randomized controlled trial comparing pioglitazone and metformin prior to in vitro fertilization in polycystic ovary syndrome - associated infertile women: impact on pregnancy rates.

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the significant causes of infertility. Impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance add chiefly to the pathogenesis of PCOS. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of metformin and pioglitazone (insulin sensitizers) on the quality of the ovum and pregnancy rate in the IVF cycle.

METHODS

In this randomized clinical trial study, 172 infertile women with PCO were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either 15 mg pioglitazone (case group) or 1000 mg metformin (control group) twice a day for 6 weeks before IVF, and the pregnancy rate was compared across the groups. The number of ovum and embryos were also accessed and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

In the study, 172 patients participated. The mean age in the control and case groups was 32.09±3.9 years and 32.12±3.9 years, respectively, with no significant age difference. In both groups, the mean number of IVF eggs retrieved was 11.76±3.7 (control) and 11.86±3.7 (case), and the number of embryos formed was 7.43±2.8 (control) and 7.87±3.5 (case), with no significant disparities (P<0.05). Regarding positive pregnancies, 28 out of 86 (32.6%) occurred in the control group, while 42 out of 86 (48.8%) happened in the case group, demonstrating a significant difference (P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

According to the results obtained in this study, it may be concluded that pioglitazone is superior to metformin in IVF cycles in PCOS-associated infertile women leading to a higher pregnancy rate.